What these women have in common with Vidya Balan

What these women have in common with Vidya Balan

The actress is simply unstoppable what with one fabulous performance after another. The 34-year-old has plenty to celebrate.

Her latest release, Kahaani has earned her another round of rave reviews while she's been adjudged Best Actress for her work as sultry dancing star Silk in The Dirty Picture at the recently announced National Awards. It's the ultimate honour, almost every artist associated with the Indian film industry, aspires for.

On that note, here's looking at the past recipients of the Rajat Kamal trophy for Best Actress in the last 10 years.

The jury couldn't make up their mind between the sincerity of Marathi actress Varadkar's portrayal of a mother making every effort for the betterment of her son's future in Baboo Band Baaja and Ponvannan's equally compelling delivery of an affectionate but overprotective mother in Tamil drama, Thenmerku Paruvakaatru.

As a consequence, both the ladies shared the Best Actress honour that year.

Ananya Chatterjee, Abohoman (2010)

Said to be inspired by filmmaker Satyajit Ray's affiliation with actress Madhabi Mukerji, Ananya conveys the complex distinction of reality and perception through her intricate performance of young actress with striking similarities to her director's wife in Rituparno Ghosh's Bangla offering, Abohoman.

Priyanka Chopra, Fashion (2009)

Priyanka Chopra's confident transformation of a small-town girl aspiring to make it big in Mumbai's ruthless modeling scene followed by her gradual decline and recovery impressed the jury enough to decorate her with the award of her career.

Priyamani, Paruthi Veeran (2007)

Despite the standard nature of its plot -- young lovers and parental objection, Ameer Sultan's deft treatment of Tamil drama Paruthiveeran ensures it is a memorable affair. And one of its strongest attributes was Priyamani's genuine conviction of a devoted-at-any-cost girlfriend.

Sarika, Parzania (2006)

She may have played a second lead or supporting character through most of her adult career. But Sarika finally got her due for getting under the skin of a tormented Parsi mother of a missing boy in Rahul Dholakia's disturbingly believable, Parzania set against 2002's Gujarat riots.

Tara, Hasina (2005)

Working in a Girish Kasaravalli film is usually a promising prospect for its leading lady.

Before Umashree in Gulabi Talkies, it was Kannada child actor turned mainstream actress Tara who worked under his keen guidance to deliver a gripping performance of a pregnant wife deserted by her husband on learning their fourth baby is also a girl child in the sadly relevant Hasina.

Konkona Sen Sharma, Mr and Mrs Iyer (2003)

A gifted actress for all occasions and genres, Sharma's breakthrough happened under mother Aparna Sen's direction in the latter's mesmerizing take on the beauty of on-the-spot, undefined relationships that transcends religious bias against the backdrop of communal disharmony.

Her transformation from a conservative Tamil Iyer Brahmin nursing her baby son to a woman of generosity and passion is delicately articulated through the Omkara star's superlative performance.

Tabu, Chandni Bar and Shobhana, Mitr: My Friend (2002)

Tabu's tour de performance in Madhur Bhandarkar's study into the harrowing life of a bar dancer is in complete contrast to Shobana's bored NRI housewife finding companionship in a undisclosed chat friend for Revathy's largely English speaking Mitr: My Friend.

Guess the jury was divided about this one as well and their indecision proved to be the twain's gain.